Spark-plug.



J. E. TRAHAN. SPARK PLUG. APPLICATION FILED SEPLS. l9l6- u Patented May29, 1917 57 JMM.

JOSEPH E. TRAHAN, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SPARK-PLUG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 5, 1916, Serial lilo. 118,322.

To all whom it may concern Bis it known that I, JOSEPH E. TRAHAN, a citizellof the United States of America, resldin at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and tate of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark- Plugs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to spark plugs, and the primary object of my invention is to provide a spark plug with an automatic air intake valve which will permit of air passing through the spark plug and impinging against the terminal ends of the electrodes, to remove carbon, incrustations of foreign 'matter, lubricating oils and other matter that may accumulate or be deposited on the elec trodes to interfere with sparking or jumping 10f current from one electrode to the dthe' ross the spark gap. In other words, the V ""delivered against the electrodes is adapted to maintain the same in a clean serviceable condition.

A further object of my invention is to furnish a spark plug with a simple, inexpensive and durable air intake valve which will be automatically opened when an engine cylinder takes fuel and closed when the engine cylinder exhausts gases or places fuel under compression.

A still"further object of my invention is to provide a valvular construction that is applicable in various type of spark plugs, and the construction by which I attam the above and other ob'ects will be hereinafter described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, Iwherein-- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a Spark plug provided with a valve in accordance with my invention;

21s a horizontal sectional view of the spark plug; I

'Fig. 3 1s a simllar View illustrating a slight modification of the same; and

' Fig, 4 is a similar view of a further modification of the invention.

Inthe drawings, 1 denotes a spark lug body orgsocket having a fixed electro e 2. Mounted in the body 1 is a body of insulation 3 seated and retained in the body in the usual and well-known manner. On the top of the body of insulation 3 is a retaining provided with I whereby electrical connections can be made PatentedMay 29, 1917.

with the spark plug inthe ordinary ii'nuiiiei".

The tubular stem 5 has the bore 7 thereof in communication with the bore '8 olfl'tlle body of insulation 3 to receive an electro'de'fi. The electrode 9 is retained in the body' of insulation 3 by frictionally contacting with the walls of the bore 8, and as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the bore may be cylindrical and the electrode rectangular in cross section, or the bore may be rectangular in cross section and the electrode cylindrical. In either instance, there are a plurality of conduits between the walls of the electrodes and the walls of the body of insulation and these conduits permit the body of insulation to impinge against the terminals of the electrodes.

Mounted upon the upper end of the tubular stem 5 is a valve seat member 10 held against accidental displacement by a jam nut 11. The valve seat member 10 has an intake port 12 communicating with a valve seat 13 in said member. Loosely mounted in the member 10 is a valve 14: having a rod 15, said rod extending in the tubular stem 5 to rest on the electrode 9, also to extend through the intake port 12 to permit of manual manipulation.

.As shown'in Fig. 1, the valve 14 is unseated, such being the position of the valve when an engine cylinder is receiving fuel. The suction or reduction of atmospheric pressure which draws the fuel into an engine cylinder will also draw asupply of air through the spark plug, in the form of a blast or jet, which will dislodge any matter adhering to the terminals of the electrodes. When the engine cylinder is exhausting gases or compressing fuel the valve 14 is automatically sea-ted, but may be manually unseated when it is desired to blow out or clean the air passages of the spark plug.

As shown in Fi 4, the valve rod 15 may have flat side walFs providing clearance for the passage of air, and the electrode 9 may be slmilarly constructed.

It is thought that the utility of my inven-.

tion will be apparent without further description and while in the drawing there is illustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is ,to be understood that the ,exteriorly serevvth'readed stem mounted on said body of insulation and having" a bore" struetural elements are-suseeptible to such [fariations .and modifioations as fall Within the""-'"s'e0'pe of r. the appfinded claim.

What I claim is:-

,"In a s ark plug, a s ark plug body provided with: aneleetro e,. a body of insulation .oarried by said spark plug body and having'a cylindrical bore therethrough, an

alining with the bore ofthe body of .insulation, an electrode in the bore of said body of insulation extending intoj't he bore-of said stem and rectangular in cross Section to provide air passages betvveenf electrode and said body of insulationi" and. ;fsa1d stem, a

Zd ome shaped valve seat; member screwed on 'said stem and providedfi-fvvith-"an air intake port and'a valve seat around the inner end of said port, a jam nut on said stem to hold said Valve seat member in an adjusted position, an automatic valve in said valve seat member, and a valve rod of less cross-sectional area 'than said electrode carried by.

said valve and having an end thereof below sald valve extendin into the bore of said stem to rest on the e ectrode extending into said stem and the opposite end of said rod. above said valve extending through the air JOSEPH E. TRAHAN.

Witnesses:

ANNA M. Donn, KARL H: BUTLER. 

